Bottle-capping machine.



E. NORDSTROM.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. 1916. 1,282,920. Patented 00t.29,1918.

6 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. NORDSTROIVI.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9, 191a.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918..

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. NORDSTRGIVY.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. mg.

L fi,@m Patgnted Oct, 29, 1918.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

r wig-'5. H H51 1' I;

-fi/ nu, "film"! III! I .3

i 1 fig E. NORDSTROM.

BOTTLE CAPPlNG MACHINE.

APPLICATION HLED FEB. 9. 1916.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEET 4-.

vwemtoz E. NORDSTROIVI.

BOTTLE GAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.9.19|6.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

6 SHEETSSHEEI 5.

E. NORDSTROM.

BOTTLE CAPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 9. ms.

Patented Oct. 29, 1918.

LQQQHQUQ 6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

Unit rian srarns rarnnr orrron.

ELOF NORDSTROM, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'IO AMERICAN DAN STOPPEP. COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

BOTTLE-CAPPING MACHINE.

ll.282,92ll

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentecill Cot. M911 Application filed February 9, 1916. SerialNo. 77,191.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELoF Nonns'rnoar, a citizen of the l nited States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-Capping Illachines. of which the following is a speci fication.

This invention relates more especially to bottle-capping machines in which bottles are autoimitically fed into position to have caps applicdthereto after which they are fed into other positions to have said caps finally secured to the bottles. ()ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide improved means for feeding bottle caps from a hopper into which they have been previously charged. Another object is to provide improved means for keeping the hopper properly charged so as to avoid any delay which might be occasioned by the hopper becoming exhausted of caps. Toward the attainment of this object, the present invention contemplates the provision of cap holders which are adapted to be filled in one place and then transported to the machine which is to apply them to the bottles. Another object is to provide improved means for moving the capholdcrs into and out of position to discharge into the hopper. Other and fii'rthcr objects will appear in the speci-.

fication and be pointed out in the appended claims. reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine provided with my improvements. partsbe; ing broken away and parts shown in section.

Fig. is a top plan view of the same. i

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the mechanism for operating the cap-holding tubes. parts being shown in section and parts broken awav.

Fig. l is a fragmentary plan view of some of the driving connections for the same.

Fig. 5 is an elevation on an enlarged scale, taken from the left of Fig. 3. parts being broken a ay and parts shown in section.

Fig. 6 is a detail.

Fig. 7 is a combined section and elevation of a hopper and cap feeding mechamsm on an enlarged scale, parts being broken away.

big. 8 is a combined top plan yievg and section of the same, parts being onntted.

Fig. 9 is an end elevation of Fig. 8. parts being broken away and parts shown in section. v

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the hopper and parts of the rap-feeding mechanism in its initial position. parts being broken away.

Fig. 11 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 10, parts being broken away and the several parts oi the cap-feedingmechanism being changed or being shown in different position.

Fig. 13 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. it is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the parts in an advanced position.

Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the same.

Fig. 16 is a view similar to Figs. 10. 1'2 and 1-1, but with the parts in their lowermost positions.

Fig. 17 is an end elevation of the same.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, in the embodiment shown therein; the rods 1 serve to mount the frame member 2, said rods 1 being preferably in the Form of screws as shown and described in my copcnding' application, tier. No. 48.210. filed August 31, 1915. this constructi m being useful for raising and lowering the capping mechanism to suit the bottles or other con ta iners of dill'erent heights. The standard 3 carries a bracket 1. there being a vertical bearing 5 for the shaft (3 and a horizontal bearing 7 for the shaft 8 which receives its power from the shaft 6 by means of beveled pinion 9 on the shaft 6 which drives the beveled gear 10 on the shaft 8. The shaft ti carries at its outer end a fly wheel ll. also keyed to the shaft 8 is a pinion 12 which meshes with a beveled gear 13 and serves to vertically reciprocate the bottle cap ,clencln ing device comprising adjacently disposed units 14-. This mechanism is fully shown and described in my ctr-pending application above referred to and need not be specifically referred to herein. The other end of the shaft 8 carries a housing 15 said housing}: containing); a clutch (not shown) which is operated by an arm 16 carried by the upper end of a spindle which carries at its lower end a teeler 1?. said teelcr being; adapted. as explained in the above n'rc'ntioned application. to determine the presence or absence ol a bottle to be capped. t ihmild there he a failure at any time to present a bottle to the capping mechanism. said teeler serves to operate thew-latch mechanism within the housing 15 and to disconnect it :ialeei'e it llltl which is connected to an eccentric 55, rotating freely on the shaft 8.

As shown in Figs. 1 2 and l, a bevel pinion 19 keyed to shaft 8 drives a bevel gear 20 keyed to the upper end of a vertical shaft :21, said shaft being journaled in a bearing :22. The bottom end of said shaft 21 carries a crank arm 23 which is pivotally connected to one end of a connecting rod 2 t, the other end of said connecting rod being connected by a stud 25 to a lever arm 26, provided with a tangential flange 27 which serves to mount a curved finger 28. As the crank arm 23 moves into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, the curved finger 28 is thrown into the dotted line position shown in said figure. This movement being adapted to throw one cap holding tube out of discharging position with reference to the hopper to be hereinafter referred to, and another holder into discharging position. The lever 26 is journaled upon a vertical shaft 29 which extends upwardly through the table or plate 30, (see F ig. 5) and carries at its upper end a spider 31 provided with sockets for receiving a plurality of cap holding tubes. A similar spider 33 is mounted on the shaft 2.9 adjacent the plate or table 30. Said spiders are each provided with hub portions which are keyed to the shaft- 29 by pins 3+ as shown in Fig. 7.

'The lower end of the shaft 29 is provided with a reduced portion-35 journaled in a bearing 36 below the table 30. Any suitable means (not shown on the drawings) may be employed for retaining the tubes in their positions in the spiders 31 and 33. As shown in Fig. 7, each of said tubes 32 is in its turn brought into register with the hopper 37 which depends from the bushing 38 mounted in a hole in the plate 30 (see Fig. Slides 39 are reciprocably mounted on opposite edges of the hopper 37, being retained there on in the present embodiment by a semi-cylindrical band spring l0 which connects them together and yieldably braces them against the hopper. The lower end of said hopper has mounted on the flat faces thereof. a plurality of yieldable fingers +1 for holding the caps 42 against discharge therefrom. The. oscillatable frame is journaled upon oppositely projecting pins l3 carried by the slides I39. Said 'fl'tlllle comprises a laterally projecting yoke it and downwardly extending arms 45 at either side of the tube 37. Each arm l5 carries a stop 46 which limits the lateral movement of the arm 4-5 by being brought into engagement with the slides 31). The lower end of the arm l -i is deflected inwardly to constitute a gripper foot 47. which in its upper position is disposed above one of the wings of the bottommost cap in the hopper 237. A pair of pins lH carried by the swinging end-of a leveri are disposed above and below the yoke t4. As shown in Fig. 7. the lever if) is pivoted at one end to a stud 50 adjustably mounted on the lower end of a rod 51 which is thrauled into the lug 52 on the machine frame. The connecting rod 53 is pivotally connected at 5% to the lever 49. the upper end of the rod 53 being provided with an eccentric strap running on an eccentric 55 keyed to the sleeve 18. As the rod 53 rises and falls, the parts just mentioned will successively assume the positions shown in Figs. 10 to 17 inclusive. Thus at the end of the up-stroke of rod 53, the arms 4:") will be laterally displaced as shown best in Fig. 11, but at the beginning of the down-stroke of the lever 49, the arms will first be thrown into vertical position on the slides 39 so that the grippers T? will be disposed immediately above the lateral projecting wings of the lowermost cap in the hopper. Secured to each of the arms 45 is a yieldable grip or leaf 56. First the arms is") move downwardly, the grippers 4T draw the lowermost cap from the hopper by overcoming the re sillent pressure of spring fingers 41. At this time the wings of the cap rest upon the leaf spring 56 until the cap rests upon the crown 57 of the bottle disposed to receive it (see Figs. 14 and As the downward movement of the arms 45 continues, the grippers l7 force the wings of the cap downwardly into loose engagement with the crown of the bottle, as shown in Figs. 16 and 17. The return stroke of the lever 49 at first moves the arms laterally into the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 17 aml then the continued upward movement of the lever 49 brings the parts to the. initial positions shown in Figs. 10. and 11. As shown in Figs. .2 and 7, the table or plate 30 is provided with an up wardly projecting flange 58 against which abuts one end of a spring 59. The other end of said spring abuts against the lever til) which is pivoted at (31 on the plate 3(). 'lhe outer end of the lever 60 is adapted i tn:---

gage the corner of a cap holder 32 so that said holder is retained in register with the hopper during the time that said holder discharges into the hopper. The table 30 is provided with an arcuate slot (32 within which the finger 28 oscillates. Normally this movement of the-finger has no effect. \l'heu. however, the holder disposed over the hopper. becomes fully discharged, the follower block (33 (see Fig. 7) reaches its lowermost position. Said follower is provided with a deep slot which registers in itslowermost position with a slot (34 in the wall of the tube 32. The lever arm is mounted within the slot in the follower (53 on a pin (36. \Vhen the last cap has left the tube. the end of the lever arm (35 is dropped low enough to fall downwardly into the slot 64, an action which brings it in the path of the finger '28 as it oscillates from the slot 62. In consemience. the next movement of said tin 'er in a clockwise direction according to Fig. 2 will enlilt) Lasaaeo gage the lever arm 65 and move the empty holder away from the hopper while at the same time bringing a loaded holder into position to discharge into the hopper. The holders 32 may be filled in any desired or suitable manner. Preferably however, they are filled at a central station and after being properly packed are shipped to various points to be used on machines of the character hereinbefore described for capping bottles. After each bottle receives its cap in the manner already pointed out, it is in the presentembodiment passed along to the crimping mechanism where the caps are permanently secured to the bottles.

I claim: a

1. In a machine of the character described, means for holding a vessel to be capped, acap-stacking container disposed above and coaxially arranged with respect to a vessel mounted on said vessel holder, and means reciprocable longitudinally of the common axis of said vessel and cap-stacking container for Withdrawing a cap from said containerand applying it directly to said vessel.

2. In a machine of the character described,

a tubular hopper for caps, a reciprocable v slide, and means carried by said slide and movable into and out of position to engage a cap in 'said hopper to move it from said hopper to the neck of a bottle, said slide carried means being provided with means for releasably engaging the Wings of a cap, the reciprocating movement of said slide being sufficiently extended to force said wings close against the neck of a bottle.

3. In a machine of the character described, a hopper tube for caps.having laterally extending wings, said tube being adapted to retain the bottom most cap with its wings projecting, and means for withdrawing the bottom-most cap from said hopper down on to a bottle therebeneath, said cap-withdrawing means including non-yielding fingers movable into position above the projecting wings of said cap before the Withdrawal movement of said withdrawing means, and flexible fingers movable into position below said wings before such. withdrawal movement.

4. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting. late-rally there'- from, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap to draw said cap from said chute on to a bottle and to bend said wings to lie lengthwise of said bottle, and means for operating said instrumentality. r

5. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having Wings, said chute by its cross section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally'therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a bottle, and means for operating said instrumentality, said instrumentality comprising one member which moves to and fro between said chute and the successive bottles presented for capping and another member carried by the first member and movable into and out of position to engage the wings of the bottommost cap in said hopper.

6. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap 'from said chute on to a bottle, and means for operating said instrumentality, said instrumentality comprising a reciprocating slide and means movably mounted on said slide to move into engagement with the wings of the bottom-most cap in said hopper at the beginning of the for ward'stroke of said slide and to move in an opposite direction at the beginning of the return stroke of said slide.

7. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a lbottle, and means for operating said instrumentality, isaid instrumentality comprising a reciprocating slide and means movably mounted on said slide to move into engagement with the wings of the bottom-most cap in said hopper at the beginning of the forward stroke of said slide and to move in an opposite direction at the beginning of the return stroke of said slide, said operating means being connected to said slide by means of the cap engaging means mounted thereon.

8. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its, cross-section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their Wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a bottle, and means for operating said instrumentality, said instrumentality including a slide reciprocably mounted on said tube, and grippers oscillatably mounted on said slide. 9. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross-section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a bottle. and means for operating said instrumentality, said instrumentality including a frame journaled on said Slide and provided with inturned ends, said operating means being connected to said frame to oscillate it while at the same time reciprocating said slide.

10. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a bottle, and means for ope 'ating said instru inentality, said instrumentality including a frame journaled on said slide and provided with inturned ends, said operating means being connected to said frame to oscillate it while at the same time reciprocating said slide, said hopper being disposed vertically and said frame being provided with yieldable members between which and said inturned ends the wings of a cap are engaged.

11. In a machine of the character described, a chute for caps having wings, said chute by its cross-section being adapted to accommodate a plurality of superimposed caps with their wings projecting laterally therefrom, an instrumentality provided with means for engaging the wings of a cap and drawing said cap from said chute on to a bottle, and means for operating said instrumentality, said instrumentality including a frame journaled on said slide and provided with inturned ends, said operating means being connected to said frame to oscillate it while at the same time reciprocating said slide. said hopper being disposed vertically and said frame being provided with yieldable members between which and said inturned ends the wingsof a cap are engaged, and means for driving said operating means to force said projecting ends of the frame downward over the Wings of a cap on a bottle.

12. In a machine of the character described, a cap-feeding hopper adapted to hold a pile of caps in predetermined relation, a plurality of cap-holders adapted to discharge into said hopper, and means for moving said cap-holders successively into position to discharge into said hopper. said moving means including a normally inoperative element which moves into operative position when the last cap leaves a capholder.

13. In a machine of the character described. a cap-feeding hopper, a plurality of cap-holders, and means for feeding said cap-holders successively into position to discharge into said hopper, said means including a follower carried by each holder,- and a lever arm normally sustained in inoperative position by a portion of said holder, said holder being adapted to release said lever arm when said follower reaches a point adjacent the lower end of the holder.

14. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper, of a tubular holder movable into and out of position to discharge into said hopper, said holder being provided with an opening in a lateral wall thereof, a follower movable within said holder and normally sustained in raised position by caps in said holder, said follower being provided with an element normally sustained in inoperative position by a lateral wallof said holder, and means adapted to engage said element to move said holder away from said hopper, the opening in the lateral wall of said holder being adapted to release said element when the caps are exhausted in said holder. 15. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a hopper, of a holder for caps movable into and out of position to discharge into said hopper, means for moving said holder, and means carried by the holder and movable into position to be engaged by said moving means depending on the presence or absence of caps in said holder.

16. In a machine of the character described, a hopper, a cap-holder movable into and out of position to discharge into said hopper, said cap-holder being provided with normally inoperative means becoming operative when the last cap leaves the holder for moving said cap-holder away from said hopper, and power driven means adapted to engage said normally inoperative means when it becomes operative.

ELOF NORDSTROM. 

